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Falcons put it all together in beating Saints

 
Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks is tackled by Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon in the first half of Monday’s game at the Superdome in New Orleans.
Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks is tackled by Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon in the first half of Monday’s game at the Superdome in New Orleans.
Published Sept. 27, 2016

NEW ORLEANS — Tevin Coleman rushed for three touchdowns, Matt Ryan passed for two TDs, and linebacker Deion Jones returned an interception 90 yards for a score to help the Falcons beat the winless Saints 45-32 on Monday night.

The game was played nearly 10 years to the day after the Saints' memorable return to the Superdome on Sept. 25, 2006, 13 months after Hurricane Katrina, which New Orleans won 23-3.

This time, the Saints' depleted defense struggled to slow down Devonta Freeman, the former Florida State standout who rushed for 152 yards and caught five passes for 55 yards.

Atlanta broke a 12-game Monday night road losing streak which dated to 1979, according to ESPN.

Hardy arrest: Police in Richardson, Texas, arrested former Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy late Sunday on a drug possession charge, police said, according to the Dallas Morning News. Hardy was stopped shortly before midnight on a traffic violation, but was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance penalty group 1, Sgt. Kevin Perlich said.

Wilson "feels great": Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has a sprained MCL in his left knee and coach Pete Carroll said he could miss next week's game. But Carroll said on Seattle's KIRO-AM that Wilson "feels great" and that his recovery is already going "exceedingly well."

Bell eager: Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell returned after a three-game suspension for a second violation of substance abuse policy. The 2014 All-Pro was suspended for the first two games last season, came back, then was gone for the season after tearing the MCL in his right knee in November against the Bengals. "I'm not a perfect person, I never will be," he said. "I know there are some things I can get better (at)."

Hall on shelf: If Washington safety DeAngelo Hall's season-ending injury might lead others to suspect the playmaking defensive back's 13-year career is over, he was adamant that won't be the case. "I'll be back," Hall tweeted. Hall is out for the season with a torn ligament in his right knee.

Bengals: Linebacker Vontaze Burfict returned after his three-game ban because of illegal hits. His hit to receiver Antonio Brown's head drew a penalty to set up Pittsburgh's last-minute field goal for an 18-16 playoff win last season in Cincinnati.

Browns: Coach Hue Jackson said the team had no plans to replace kicker Cody Parkey, who missed three field goals in Sunday's loss at Miami. Parkey was making his debut with Cleveland after ex-Buc Patrick Murray injured his left knee on Friday/

Chargers: Linebacker Manti Te'o is out for the season with a torn left Achilles tendon, suffered Sunday at Indianapolis.

49ers: Offensive lineman Anthony Davis again retired. Davis sat out last year in part because of concerns over a concussion before returning this summer. He had another concussion in practice on Sept. 15.

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Giants: A day after Odell Beckham Jr. angrily shoved a kicking net on the sidelines, only to have the net whack him in the face, coach Ben McAdoo said the star receiver needs to control himself better. "I thought between the white lines he controlled himself," McAdoo said Monday. Also, running back Shane Vereen (triceps) is out for the season.

Raiders: They released Pro Bowl fullback Marcel Reece after his four-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. Reece had to sit out the final game of 2015 and the first three games this season.